Non-digestible fibers increase the capacity to produce short-chain fatty acids in stool of very preterm infants.. feces metagenome

Introduction: Preterm infants have delayed intestinal colonization, which could negatively impact maturation of the intestinal barrier and mucosal immunity. Supplementation of immune modulatory fibers to their diet might increase the production of beneficial short-chain-fatty acids profiles (SCFA) by intestinal microbes.Methods: in vitro fermentation using feces of preterm infants (GAResults: Stool of 7 infants (gestational age 27.8±1.2 weeks, birthweight 1101±190g, 3/7 infants born by Caesarean section) were analyzed. The microbiome showed wide variation during the first weeks of life. SCFA production was low in the first stool (mean 4.4±1.5 days) and did not increase until time point 4 (mean 29.1±0.5 days). scGOS/lcFOS (pConclusion: The fecal microbiome in preterm infants were highly variable in the first weeks of life. SCFAs production was very low but increased, mainly due to acetate, after two weeks if dietary fibers, especially scGOS/lcFOS, were added. C-section delayed SCFA production by intestinal microbiota even in the presence of dietary fibers.